UFO Commentary - vol 2 no 4

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO COMMENTARY
Issue: Vol. 2 No. 4
Date: Summer 1972
Publisher: Patrick A. Huyghe
Type: A scholarly journal devoted to unidentified flying objects.

Editorial

The editorial, written by Allen Benz, draws a parallel between ufology and the 'iceberg crime' of rape. It highlights that, similar to rape, a significant percentage of UFO sightings go unreported, often due to fear of ridicule and disbelief from authorities and the public. Benz argues that UFO witnesses, like rape victims, are often subjected to suspicion and not treated with dignity, contributing to the phenomenon remaining largely hidden from mainstream understanding. He urges ufologists to actively work towards changing societal attitudes to ensure witnesses are treated more sympathetically.

The Delphos Case; an in depth investigation, by Ted Phillips

This article details an investigation into a UFO sighting that occurred on November 2, 1971, near Delphos, Kansas. The primary witness was 16-year-old Ronald Johnson, who was working on his family's farm when he heard a rumbling sound and saw a brilliantly illuminated object. The object was described as domed, multi-colored, and approximately nine feet in diameter and ten feet high. It emitted a sound likened to a vibrating washing machine before ascending rapidly at a 25° angle, producing a high-pitched sound. The witness experienced temporary blindness after the object's departure.

Upon investigating the site, Ronald and his parents discovered a glowing circle on the ground, with the soil surface appearing crystallized and emitting a bright gray-white glow. Touching the surface caused a numbing sensation in Mrs. Johnson's fingertips, which lasted for about two weeks, and a shorter-lasting numbness in Mr. Johnson's fingers. The object itself was later observed as a bright light in the southern sky by the family, described as being half the apparent diameter of the full moon and the color of an arc welder.

The investigator, Ted Phillips, visited the site on December 2, 1971, and interviewed Sheriff Ralph Enlow, who had collected a soil sample on November 3, 1971. Phillips also spoke with the editor and a reporter from the Delphos Republican, who had visited the site and taken photographs. A meteorologist from the Concordia Weather Bureau found no explanation for the ring and no negative radiation results. The investigation concluded that a hoax was unlikely, based on witness reliability and the nature of the physical evidence.

Airships in Oklahoma and Texas, by Lucius Farish

This section compiles historical newspaper reports from April 1897 detailing sightings of mysterious airships in Texas and Oklahoma. Several accounts describe objects with indistinct outlines, bright lights, and unusual flight patterns. In Guthrie, Oklahoma, a landlord reported seeing a light moving erratically before disappearing at high speed. In Beaumont, Texas, a local agent claimed to have inspected a flying machine 136 feet long, propelled by four large wings and electricity, and even conversed with one of its crew members.

Further reports from Edna, Texas, describe an editor witnessing two airships communicating with lights before departing in different directions. In Uvalde, Texas, Sheriff H.W. Baylor reported an airship landing, from which three men emerged to procure water. One of the men, identified as Wilson, inquired about a Captain C.C. Akers. The sheriff described the ship's wings and fins, noting its departure northward. The article notes that the descriptions of these airships were consistent across multiple sightings and that the reliability of the witnesses, like Sheriff Baylor, was considered high. An editorial short in one newspaper sarcastically offered unused airship manuscripts for sale as fuel.

Book Reviews, by Paul Braczyk

This section contains book reviews, though the specific titles and content are not detailed in the provided pages.

Format of the UFOCAT Disc, by David R. Saunders

This article discusses the format of the UFOCAT Disc, likely a catalog or database related to UFO sightings, but the specific details are not elaborated upon in the visible text.

The World Sighting Index, by Allen Benz

This entry refers to the World Sighting Index, compiled by Allen Benz, suggesting a system for cataloging UFO sightings globally. The content of the index itself is not detailed.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the investigation of specific UFO cases, such as the Delphos Case, and the historical context of aerial phenomena, exemplified by the 1897 airship reports. There is a consistent focus on witness testimony, physical evidence, and the challenges faced by ufologists in gaining public and scientific acceptance. The editorial stance, as articulated by Allen Benz, emphasizes the need for a more dignified and sympathetic approach to UFO witnesses, drawing parallels with societal attitudes towards victims of crime to highlight the issue of underreporting and skepticism. The journal aims to present a progressive approach to UFOlogy, encouraging in-depth investigation and critical analysis.

This document appears to be a section from a magazine, likely a review of a book titled "UFOs: KEY TO THE NEW AGE" by Arthur Shuttlewood. The review is written by Paul Braczyk and published in the "BOOK REVIEWS" section. The magazine itself is not fully identified, but the book reviewed was published by Regency Press in London, England, and costs $4.00.

Review of "UFOs: KEY TO THE NEW AGE"

The reviewer, Paul Braczyk, introduces Arthur Shuttlewood as a prolific ufologist with previous books such as "The Warminster Mystery" and "Warnings from Flying Friends." Braczyk states this is his first acquaintance with Shuttlewood's work. The book "UFOs: Key to the New Age" is described as containing detailed first-hand investigations of UFO sightings in the Warminster area, including names, places, dates, and times. However, the reviewer notes that a chronological listing of such events can be tedious, which might be why Shuttlewood dispersed anecdotes, theorizings, and opinions throughout the book.

Intriguing Ideas and Theories

Two specific "mental meanderings" from the book are highlighted:

1. The Gaseous State of Matter: Shuttlewood suggests that the natural state of matter with the most properties attributed to UFOs (levitation, self-luminescence, instant invisibility, flexibility of shape) is the gaseous state. He posits that a large percentage of UFOs conform to Boyle's Law. He further speculates that "People dressed in space suits who can vanish at will are not necessarily hallucinations, but real people with invisible bodies."
2. Instantaneous Acceleration: Shuttlewood offers a perspective on the apparent instantaneous acceleration of UFOs by considering the Earth's own motion. He observes that our stationary position is not truly stationary, as the Earth revolves on its axis, around the sun, and the solar system and galaxy also move. This leads to the idea that when a UFO appears to accelerate from visibility to invisibility, it might simply be "stopping moving" from our perspective, implying we are the ones streaking.

Criticisms and Structure

The reviewer points out a negative aspect: the loss of continuity in many chapters due to the attempt to avoid repetitive sighting information. Sometimes, the subject matter deviates from the main topic, branching into loosely related or unrelated subjects such as ecology, numerology, cosmogony, and "fillerology."

Overall Assessment

Despite the structural issues, Braczyk considers "UFOs: Key to the New Age" to be one of the better UFO books, attributing this to Shuttlewood's background as a professional newspaper editor and reporter. The book is published by Regency Press, 43 Oxford St., London, WC1 England, and is priced at $4.00.

Other Reviews/Content Mentioned

The document also includes brief mentions of other books and publications:

• "Investigating the Unexplained" by Ivan T. Sanderson: Reviewed by Paul Braczyk. The book is divided into four divisions: Live Things (concerning cryptids and mythical creatures), Cooked Things (unusual eggs, preserved creatures, fossilization), Human Things (non-occult origins of the zodiac, ancient artifacts, ancient electrical devices), and Inhuman Things (mismeasurements, rain making, human incinerations, FAFROTSKIES, OOPTHS). The reviewer praises Sanderson's writing and the book's assets like photographs, an index, and appendices. It is published by Prentice Hall and costs $7.95.
• UFOCAT Disc Format: A technical description of the UFOCAT random access disc pack, detailing the potential capacity and the assignments of data fields within each record, including type of record, source identification, chronological data, location, witness information, object characteristics (color, lights, shapes, motion, formation, evidence), and viewing conditions. This section is attributed to David R. Saunders, Ph.D. from the University of Colorado.
• The World Sighting Index: An installment of the World Sighting Index is presented, listing numerous global UFO cases with dates, locations, and associated codes. This section is attributed to Allen Benz.
• SPACEVIEW Magazine: An advertisement for SPACEVIEW, described as an independent magazine specializing in space news and flying saucer scenes. It contains about 32 pages, is professionally printed, and published by Paradice International, Copyright 1972. Subscription options are provided, including a one-year membership for $1.50 or a combined membership and subscription for $2.95, which includes bonuses like a UFO photo.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this excerpt are UFO sightings, the investigation of unexplained phenomena, and book reviews within the ufological community. The editorial stance, as indicated by the reviews, appears to be critical yet appreciative of detailed research and thoughtful analysis of UFO phenomena, while also acknowledging potential structural or stylistic shortcomings in the presented works. The inclusion of technical data (UFOCAT) and extensive sighting indexes suggests a publication aimed at serious enthusiasts and researchers in the field.

This issue of UFO magazine, identified as issue number 20, features a profile of Staff Artist Gladys Huyghe, details on the Delphos Case, and an explanation of the UFOCAT disc format.

Gladys Huyghe: Staff Artist

The issue introduces Gladys Huyghe as an award-winning freelance artist who was born and educated in France. Her paintings have been featured in numerous magazines. Despite her involvement with UFO-related content, Huyghe states she remains "rather skeptical" about unidentified flying objects. The Huyghes reside in Newport News, Virginia.

The Delphos Case

The article continues the report on the Delphos Case, detailing conversations with witnesses. Mr. Johnson added that sheep at his farm would jump from their pen each evening for a week following the incident. The author then spoke with Mrs. Johnson at a local rest home. She is described as a pleasant, soft-spoken, sincere, and intelligent individual. Mrs. Johnson corroborated the accounts given by Mr. Johnson and Ronnie regarding the events of the evening of November 2nd. She described the object seen in the sky as "quite large and bright." As it moved away, the object appeared to diminish in size. She also noted that the ground felt cool, rather than warm, about ten minutes after the alleged ascent, and that it had a slick, crusty feel.

The report indicates that Mr. Phillips' full report on the Delphos case will be concluded in the subsequent issue.

Format of the UFOCAT Disc

This section describes the format of the UFOCAT disc, a system for managing UFO data. It explains that programs have been developed and tested for adding, correcting, sorting, and processing the data within this file. Other programs are currently being written. The author asserts that the basic concept and format of the file are sound and feasible for data retrieval without complex control cards or intricate punching methods. The processing is described as efficient and economical for a file of this size, with various options available for flexible expansion.

While this summary provides a brief overview of the new disc format, it notes that most sections of the codebooks for UFOCATS 70-71-72, which formed the basis for the disc file, remain valid. The author intends to compile this material into a consistent form and circulate it to interested parties.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue touches upon UFO sightings and the challenges of data management within the field. The inclusion of an artist's perspective, even one expressing skepticism, suggests an editorial stance that values diverse viewpoints. The ongoing reporting on specific cases like the Delphos Case and the development of data systems like UFOCAT indicate a focus on investigative reporting and practical applications within UFO research.